TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Environment Affairs and Forestry Ministry recorded an increase in timber exports following the implementation of the timber-legality verification system (SVLK) for forestry industry products in January 1, 2013.

From January 1, 2013 to June 25, 2015, the ministry has issued more than 260,000 V-legal documents for forestry industry products exported to 194 countries. The export value had also increased from US$5.17 billion in 2012 to US$5.74 billion in 2013 and US$5.96 billion in 2014.

Ida Bagus Putera Parthama, the director general of sustainable forest management at the Environment Affairs and Forestry Ministry, said that the export value was expected to increase when the European Union accepted the SVLK.

"It will lead to a wider market," Putra said on Friday, June 26, 2015.

The negotiation process related to the SVLK with the EU will be finalized on July 8, 2015. If both countries managed to reach an agreement, SVLK-certified timbers are expected to be distributed to 28 European Union countries by January 1, 2016.